After months and months of waiting for his shot at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight title — largely due to this — Yoel Romero will finally get his opportunity. The only problem is, it won’t be against Michael Bisping, and it won’t be for the real strap.
That’s because “Solider of God” is booked to tango against Robert Whittaker for the interim title, which is set to co-headline UFC 213 on July 9, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada, since the current champion still hasn’t healed from recent knee surgery.
Romero doesn’t care either way.
“No, I take the interim belt, fight for the interim belt and then I wait for Mr. Bisping.” said Romero during a recent appearance on The MMA Hour. “I am not dissatisfied, I am okay. You have to have in your head that you have to go step-by-step, and my goal right now is to fight for the title and that’s what I am going for. I am going to get that title.”
While Yoel admits he’s thankful for the chance to compete for a title, a fight and win over “The Count” would make it even sweeter.
“It’s not one specific person. Now, the food would’ve probably tasted a bit better had it been against Bisping, and everybody knows why.”
Indeed we do.
As for Whittaker as an opponent, “Soldier of God” gives the “The Reaper” his due props.
“He’s a great athlete, he’s doing everything that he needs to do to become a greater fighter and the worst mistake any fighter can make in front of Whittaker, is to underestimate him. He is a great athlete.”
Ronaldo Souza can attest to that.
The matchup between Romero and Whittaker pits two of the hottest Middleweights in the world against one another, as Whittaker is riding high with seven straight wins, while Yoel has captured eight in a row.
It’s safe to say Bisping will have his hands full with whomever emerges victorious in “Sin City.”